Category Archives: cats

The thankfulness prompt for today is animal. We have 4 animals around here, all feline, and most generously loved. I say most because of Lucy, we try but she is weird. Tormented. Mousey says she hears noises in her head that make her crabby. Anyway, they all have their finer points, quirks, and annoyances, but in terms of big personality, the winner is clearly Seymour. He loves all of his people and regularly tells us, marks us, and wallows on us. The ladies are more reserved, whereas he is IN YOUR FACE, all the time, demanding whatever he needs! He stick-eth closer than a brother!

Especially stuck on Abby, she is his person ❤ ❤ ❤

In front of her computer. Sometimes he is right on the keyboard.

He is also rather fond of his Grandma.

He is also the only lap cat we have, and he is an equal opportunity heat seeker, so all benefit from his company. He is especially friendly/needy in the cooler months. So tis the season to have to extricate ones self whenever one wants to stand up. He loves all manner of cozy coverings, blankets, throws or your fleece jacket. He is particularly good at making himself at home just when you are about to leave your current seat. But we have also decided that sometimes he just wants your warm seat.

In Mousey’s hoodie.

Because he is so pretty to look at and so loving most of the time, it makes it a lot easier to put up with his lesser appreciated qualities. Such as his insistent stalking of the elder felines, his occasional propensity to be bitey, and his sloppy litter box habits, trying to show the ladies that all boxes are his to use as he sees fit! He so longs to be the Alpha boss of somebody, but no one allows his hearts desire. So he just acts like the annoying kid at school, always looking for the wrong kind of attention.

All that to say, we are thankful for Sy, warts and all. I say we, but really mean the two leggers in the house, the old ladies have nothing but hate in their hearts for him. 🙂

Before Mousey and I left on our trip to Washington state at the end of July we nearly had a tragedy. Our sweet Halle Berry required an intervention. All of the sudden she became socially unacceptable in the tail end and we noticed she had lost quite a bit of weight. I blame the in and outs of summer for my lack of observation. This all happened days before we left for Washington.. Mousey and I took her in to the vet, where they x-rayed her and determined she had a serious blockage. They sent us home with a stool softener, a mineral oil enema, and strict warnings to keep her in a small room because evidently that stuff is explosive and stains. YIKES. insert a horrified face emoji right here!

Here she is on her car ride in, she would have used the horrified emoji here.

For the most part she was such a calm, good girl, even throughout her humiliating exam. She still didn’t know what was going to happen when she got home!!!

Our plan of action was to remove the litter boxes from our coat room to the next door laundry room for the other 3 felines, so we could then put some old sheets and towels on the coat room floor before we began the “procedure”. At this point all of the other nosey parker cats came out of the woodwork to see what was going on because Halle was still contained in the cat carrier and suggesting regularly that she would like to be RELEASED. I found a small litter box in the garage for her to use because we were going to need to check that to see if there were any… deliveries. Then we shooed the gawkers out of the coat room and let Halle out. Her one and only desire then became to get OUT of the coat room. Mousey helped hold her while I squirted the stool softener down her throat and gave her the enema, which I have to say I did not feel qualified to do. We left her alone with some food and water and an old bed, all of which she never touched out of spite. Or fear.

The poor thing was starting to look like a hot mess, sticky stuff all down her chest from the stool softener, some other stuff on her paws that the directions assured she would lick off. She never did. And because she thought she was being punished by being left in the coatroom under mortifying circumstances, she was a very sad kitty. She never ate or drank at all. We did have a little success in the toileting area, but it didn’t seem like it was enough to solve her problem.

I was really getting concerned with the lack of eating and drinking, so the day before I left, Abby and I hauled her back to the vet to check on her progression. Was she dying? Do we need to put her down? Has my massaging her belly helped one iota? They took another x-ray and sure enough she had unplugged!!!! Thank you LORD!!! We brought her home and released her back into free reign of the house!

Mousey and I left the next morning. The day after Honey sent Mousey and I a video of her at the water bowl, delicately dipping her paw in the water and licking it off!! We about cried in relief! Thank you Lord again!!! She has been right as rain since. But I’m pretty sure she used one of her 9 lives.

On a hilarious side note, and not to be gross, but we were having to help Halle through this debacle with some bathing. We call this a bum wash and it requires a tail holder, so it is a two person job.

During this time I was making plans with my good friend Shari, who was going to be in town from her home in Texas the day after I returned home from Washington. On accident Shari received my text to Mousey, making plans around her work schedule!

OH.MY.WORD. I laughed SO hard when I figured it out!!!!!!!! Every time I read it I laugh all over again!!! I can only imagine Shari reading, then rereading the text!!!

Hi Guys, long time, no type! I had a delightful time down in Virginia with The Schmenkmans!! I left Detroit Metro Airport with my carryon packed inside my big suitcase, and landed at Dulles International a mere 53 minutes later. It actually took Schmenky longer to get to the airport from her house!

We began with lunch and a little shopping in Manassas, as we do. We discussed goals, a new black purse for her, shoes for me, as usual. And so it began!!!

One of the first places we ate was Spelunkers, in Front Royal!!! I have missed it so! Delicious cheeseburgers and fries, get in ma belly!!!! I have got to get Honey there!

So very juicy!

The end result!

We were greeted by Miss Miracle upon arriving on Sassy Cat Hill.

Schmenky was so committed to finding a new pocketbook to replace her tattered, broken zippered Precious, that she threw it away! There was no choice but to find a new one. A moment of silence for Schmenky’s heavily worn handbag. The hunt was on.

She brought out a red Tiganello beauty she had purchased thrifting one year, which did an admiral job, but it is red, and it does not go with everything. I am sensing familiar territory here 😉 On the bright side, she also found several super cute tops that she could wear with the red pocketbook! It was all good.

We Sweet Frog-ged around but this one in Warrenton was my favorite, it had my 2 favorite flavors, pomegranate AND Key Lime!!!!!!! With crushed waffle cone available, it was a happy day!

Here are a few of the sassy cats. This is Kismet (aka the Lion King), who was much friendlier with me than he usually is, and Casey Lee Bumgartner who LOOOOOOVES the back of my head!!! I think he has a powerful attraction to Paul Mitchell hairspray, and he loves me up good!

Schmenky and I enjoyed Spelunkers so much that we talked Mr C into joining us on Sunday afternoon. It was just as yummy the second go round. We really wanted their frozen custard, but alas, no room.

Next stop, the new Han Solo movie! We all liked it a lot, I have no idea why the critics are dogging it! Honey and the Ab-Cat saw it in The Mitten and had the same favorable opinion. Not sure about the amount of money they expected to make, but pretty sure it did alright for any other movie that was notStar Wars. Give us a break!

And then we went back to Spelunkers to have that ice cream!!!! No pictures but I am here to tell you it was heartily enjoyed!!!

This is the view out The Schmenkman’s front door. There is always so much green there, beautimous!

Schmenk had this in her flower boxes, can’t remember what she called it but I am a fan. Like faincy clover.

The natural arch down to the backside of their property and the chicken coop.

All the interesting colored foliage.

Backyard pond. The koi thought I had something for them besides an iPhone taking pictures!

We cut hair early in the visit because we were both highly in need. It gave us more time for tweaking 🙂

BOO for having to wait so long to get a haircut!!!

Sassy haircuts: check!

AND A SASSY NEW BLACK PURSE-CHECK!!!!!!!!!!!! She found a new Precious at Gabe’s, it’s a Sak and she was very happy!

The morning routine, with helpers. Checking the stuff, Facebook, playing Words With Friends, Crushing the Candies, you know, the usual.

The Schmenkman’s have a new sassy since I was last there, meet George Bailey! He found Schmenky on her walking trail. He is a lucky kitty-witty! He reminds me of our Seymour, a feisty, spicy, trouble causing, young boy catten! He lives to jump the others and just generally disrupt their apple carts. Sounds familiar.

Personality plus, it is their saving grace.

I forgot my selfie stick, so we had to kick it old school and hold it. Before we knew it it was time to pack up all my purties, bargains, and random purchases and head back to Dulles. We had a great time, but once again faced the harsh reality that we are not the spry, all day shoppers we once were! And we are mostly just fine with the realization ❤

We are SO glad to have each other! I thank the Lord that she answered an ad to work at Images Salon ALL those 30+ years ago so I could have her to love!!! I have known her longer than my kids!!!

This was George Bailey’s favorite way to greet me, and it served as our goodbye. Loved meeting him!

The Schmenkman’s are considering moving from Sassy Cat Hill to Sassy Cat Farm, location to be announced when found! So I felt like there was a very real possibility that I may never be on the Hill again 😦 So Schmenky graciously posed on the front porch of their home of many years. Bittersweet to be sure.

One of my favorite purchases this year was a sassy cement kitty. It was fairly heavy and I was unsure I would have the room or weight allowance in my suitcase. Schmenk said she would bring it to me sometime when she came. I purchased plenty, but I did have some extra room in my carryon, so I packed it on in! I had also bought a salt rock nightlight for the Florida house, that I needed to take out of its box for space purposes. I didn’t want it to get crushed, so I wrapped it in a bag and stuck it in the hallow inside of the cement cat, then covered the cat with some clothes for protection, and off we went. I wondered if that dang cat was going to get me searched. I went through security myself, all was well. My carryon went through and the gal spent a good bit of time looking at the X-ray, then pulled my bag off the conveyer. Another gal came and told me they were going to run it through again. I said OK, and thought my next move would be over with them to unzip my bag to be searched! I could tell when my bag was again stopped in the machine. Both gals were there looking and talking and one of them stood up and yelled “do you have a light up cat in there?” I laughed and said pretty close!!! They seemed proud of themselves for solving the mystery and passed me through 🙂

I was super glad they wanted us to check our bags at the gate, I wasn’t looking forward to lifting that cement laden carryon into the overhead compartment!!!!

There she is! My Virginia Sassy cement kitty!!!!! And my BEE-you-tiful peonies from the bush my Mama gave me ❤

Thanks for having me for the last 23 years Schmenky Catherine, love youuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!

We spent some time down in Naples with my Aunt Phyllis and Uncle Bob. There was some eating and hanging out involved. One visit included a yummy rib dinner at Bricktops, and a visit with Girl Cousin Lindsay, her husband Rob B. and their sweet little baby girl, Bailey Bean. They are all known internationally as Team Levine!

Bailey Bean, who will now be called BB, was very interested in books. I bet she gets that from her Mama, who is also a book fan. Honey obliged her.

Serious thoughts.

With her Daddy, Rob B.

And there’s Girl Cousin Lindsay! They are Team Levine!

Hi BB!! ❤ ❤

Grand-père, AKA Uncle Bob, and BB talking about animals. MOO.

You’ve gotta be quick with her, she is moooooving on!

Grand-mère, AKA Aunt Phyllis. In her heart she is French.

BB came around for sugar at bedtime, she got more than that from Mousey!

There was nuzzling and all around gittin’ her!!!!

I think she liked it 🙂 And off to bed she went, without a peep!

I have been asking my Uncle Bob, who is my Mother’s brother, to do an Ancestry.com DNA test for years now. I did one several years ago and was surprised by what was represented, but I thought it would be interesting to see what his would say. After all, mine had both of my parents DNA, whereas his would only reflect my Mother’s side. After much discussion and prodding, I bought him one for Christmas, brought it down to him in Florida, and he graciously donated his spit and sent it off. Now we wait!

What I am most interested to find out is whether my one percent Jewish comes from their side!!! He has had many people ask him if he is Jewish, and even Aunt Phyllis is convinced that he is one of The Chosen People! She thinks he looks a little Bernie Madoff-ish. I just see Ummel Bob!

We continued the eating, visiting, lounging, shopping, all liberally sprinkled with looking at houses, communities, spec homes and model homes. All beautiful and each had their own pros and cons.

We usually stay in Cape Coral because it’s hard to find weekly rentals down this way, most prefer monthly commitments or more at this time of year. Although Cape Coral has come a L.O.N.G. way since it was hit hard in the economic disaster of 10 years ago, it takes too long to get to the freeway and the traffic is horrific getting through to Ft. Myers, so we looked mostly in Ft. Meyers and Estero. We did go and look at a lovely Del Webb community in Ave Maria, about 40 minutes from Naples. The houses and prices were GREAT, but even Honey agreed that it was too far from….EVERYTHING.

We have rented homes from the same couple for the last 3 years. Every year they have had a new rental and we have been the first to stay at each! She told us that they had decided to move into the one we were staying at when we left. They liked the location and the double lot.

It sure had pretty views!

It was a nice relaxing visit, and before we knew it we were packing to head home.

As per usual, Honey had us there nice and early. That meant we had some time to amuse ourselves. We did right fine in that department.

They lovin’.

And then we started with the Snapchat. Oh.My.Word.

I wish I could put a video on here because there was a goodie! Slapped that puppy up on Facebook.

KITTIES!!! My favorite 🙂

Abby collected us from the airport and we came home to a winter storm warning and dinner at Chip and Dip. I was sporting my sandals, so was a bit nippy.

Mousey’s lament the next day.

But someone was mighty glad to see us and has sticketh closer than a brother ever since.

We are almost ready for Christmas here in The Mitten! December has been a busy month, hence the lack of activity in this space. Last night was Honey’s last evening at work for the year, still waiting for the last few presents to arrive by mail, there will be at least a couple stops at the grocery to get the rest of the ingredients for our “non-traditional” Christmas dinner. We are having Beeve’s steak, Honey’s mac and cheese, garlic mushrooms and feta fatoosh salad. The Ab-Cat is trying out a new recipe for Key Lime cookies and Mousey wants an old standard, banana pudding.

I took The Grandpa to the airport last Monday, where he boarded a plane for Florida to visit his kids. It is their first Christmas together in many, many years and I am praying they have a wonderful time!

This is Abby’s second year of working at the elementary school and she said the kids have been SQUIRRELLY this week!!!! So much excitement bottled up in one building! Every day she comes home laden with presents from co-workers and little students who love her ❤

Our BSF luncheon for 60 went off nicely last week, and our Admin celebration yesterday at Chip and Dip was most enjoyable! I serve with truly lovely gals and I am so thankful for them all!

Ab sent this from her Young Fives class, it surely does look like my best Girl, Mama Mia!

The Boy and The Dane will be traveling to Denmark on Christmas day to see her People. Praying that their trip will be uneventful and smooth with the addition of this Peanut. I’m sure they will enjoy her and her sweet noises immensely!!!

Nothing like a sleeping baby.

She reminds me of her Daddy here.

Rocking her new hat! Love that tongue ❤

We will miss all of our loved ones who will not be with us.

I saw this verse on a friend’s blog, it is our wish for ourselves and for you during this Christmas season.

Keelyody and I didn’t walk today because it was raining cats and dogs, so I have a little extra time to tell you all of these unnecessary things.

I got my hairs cut a few weeks ago.

Mrs. Schmenkman cut it when I was in Virginia in May, and it grew out beautifully! She will be in town at the end of the month, but we have a wedding next weekend and I was unfortunately becoming unsightly. I am glad she is coming for many reasons, but one reason is because it could use a little “tweaking”. I don’t know how all of you nonprofessionals do it, Schmenky and I always have to TWEAK! But all in all, I can make it work.

Honey and The Boy enjoy these Bear Paw slippers. They are actually rather particular about them. I first found them for a bargain price at a TJ Maxx or a Marshalls and bought 2 pair. Honey immediately loved them but The Boy said he didn’t need them, so I returned his. He then realized the error of his ways and wore Honey’s when he could. They are evidently very comfy.

When The Boy went away to college, Honey gave him his old ones, as he was on his second pair. Which, by the way, I never could find again at TJ Maxx or Marshalls for a bargain price, and had to resort to paying bigger dollars for them at Famous Footwear.

When The Boy came home for visits, he brought the Bear Paws, which by then were being held together by duct tape. I think he even said he was wearing them outside the home. So for Christmas several years ago they both received a new pair of the Paws. I don’t know The Boy’s slipper situation at the moment, but I have made the decision for Honey that it’s time to break down and use the newbies. Mainly because he is unknowingly leaving pieces of cracked sole all over the house. I call it an executive decision, because he keeps saying his old ones are FINE. They will be relegated to outside use only, where he can litter sole pieces without judgment.

Well worn, well loved. What the heck is coming out of the back end of those puppies??? RIP beloved Paws.

Honey was laid off the week before last! I KNOW!!!! WE couldn’t believe it either! We were so excited! Unfortunately his back was also laid off and he didn’t get to 3/4 of what he would have liked to accomplish. But towards the end of the week, after some loving attention from massage therapist Mousey, he arose and went outside to help put the outside stuff away in preparation for winter. Goodbye summer friends. The pool has been closed over a month, so the watering had been sporadic, it was time.

Even though it has been flat out HOT up here in The Mitten for a sweet FOREVER, I am hopeful that fall is coming. Sometime. So I swapped the spring wreath off the front door for the autumn and hauled up some decorations in a show of good faith that it would actually happen this month. Seymour loves a little redecorating, he was all over it.

I should git, we are having a small group kick off dinner tonight and every single thing needs to be done in preparation. Have a fine fall weekend. Even if you are sweating.

Hi Guys, thanks for stopping by! If you would like to link up, click on the button below and head over to Joyce’s, she’ll tell you what to do! Here we go!

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

I pretty much had one pet growing up, a kitty named Muff. Muffietta King Kong George Elizabeth Grenada Halstead Hoover to be precise! My brother Beeve found her outside one day, brought her home, and she lived with our family for the next 19 years! She was very beloved.

Beeve brought her home when he was about 5 or 6. The story he told my folks was that he just “found” her. They said he should go ask around and see if anyone had lost her. He walked down to the corner, looked both ways, and came back and said, “Nope, no one lost a kitty”! My Mom said she was pretty young so it’s possible she had been born outside.

I think I was about 11 or 12 here.

She may have slept with Beeve some but I think she slept with me the most. My recollection of this picture was that I was sick and my faithful feline was by my side. I also love that my favorite heart pillowcases are captured here <3<3

When I think about it, she was a very patient cat. We dressed her up in baby clothes and pushed her in the stroller!! She had a great bushy tail and fulfilled one of my earliest longings; to own a kitty-witty! There have not been too many months without a cat since 🙂

2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?I have to set up a giant circle of 57 chairs for our BSF Bible study, in a room that does not really have the space for it! We are going to make as big a circle as we can, and put the rest of the chairs in a semi circle behind, like parenthesis, or dimples! It may not work, but we are giving it a shot! We have been meeting in the sanctuary where there is enough room, but it is swallowing up the voices. Wish us luck!

3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

Hmmm, I was 45, our kids were 18, 16, and 13. Honey was 50. We were in the trenches with teens and all the angst that comes with it! I have been blogging for almost 9 years and have often wished I had started sooner so I could remember what I did back in the day!!!

Ten years ago there were school struggles, academic and friends, summer school for The Boy, Mousey would have had swim team scheduling, Abby had just graduated from high school and had a major back surgery to remove and replace her first spinal fusion, and then a second surgery in the fall to reduce the contractures on her hips. Honey went to Japan three weeks for work, my Grandma Hoover passed away at 97 years old, and our nephew Little Goomba was born!!!!

And now he’s going to be a big old palooka of 10!!!

I guess there was a lot going on!

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi…which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

None of these sound appealing to me, probably why I have never ventured into dumpling making territory.5. ‘There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don’t.’ William TrogdonSo which kind are you?

I don’t consider myself a super adventurous person, so probably the latter. I am open to trying new things, but they would have to be fairly low risk! There will be no jumping out of airplanes or scaling great heights for this gal. No desire to get lost in a big city or foreign country or eat grosse things. I guess I am a creature of comfort. 6. Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of 10 years ago, lets go Way Back When! This is what I was driving then, and Honey sold the ABCAB last week.

Can I tell you that I was SAD?! It was an end of an era for us, the family van. It had sat in our garage for the last several years because it seemed silly for me to be the lone traveler in that big old van, yet it seemed like we might need it again if we ever took a long trip and needed to travel in style and comfort. I told Honey that it was by far our comfiest vehicle! Cushy seats, lots of space, great radio and cd capabilities, TV, VCR and DVD player that kept the kids entertained during many a trip.

As I helped Honey clean it out, I was awash in sentimental memories. Little things in the pockets of the seats, hair ties, a Sunday School colored picture, some movies left in the cupboard (The Kid and a lost Harry Potter movie!), about $7 dollars in state quarters from when we were saving them for the kid’s collections. Driving directions to fun places we had been and even an obituary from the viewing of a dear friend’s father, which reminded me he gave me the recipe for the best chocolate fondue, and I still have it on a scrap piece of paper, written in his own hand.

There were a lot of sweet memories of our Yorkie, Katie, who loved to be included in a car ride of any length! We kept opened water bottles in the console that we fondly called “dog water”, in case we needed to give her an unexpected drink. She accompanied me every day as I drove the kids to and from school, standing on my hip with her paws just under the window, because she was never happier than when she was traveling with her pack.

Honey had wanted to sell it a couple years ago, but I wasn’t ready to part with it. I kept thinking we would need it again and would be glad to have it, but nothing came up that seemed worth putting new plates and insurance back on.

Honey sold her on Craigslist and we left her in a church parking lot with her new owner Ed, who planned on using her to take his grandkids on vacations up north. Our garage seems SO empty. I know I will be fine, just needed to take the time to fondly remember a passing era in the life of our family. Goodbye ABCAB.